This Roasted Air Fryer Broccoli cooks up in about 8 minutes and is the perfect vegetable side. Easy to make, faster than oven roasted, and full of flavor! Your whole family will adore this delicious broccoli side.

Roasted broccoli in the air fryer basket after cooking.

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After oodles of thinking, research, and flat out asking YOU TNNers and my fellow food bloggers for recommendations….I took the plunge last month and got myself an air fryer.

I honestly didn’t get the hype, but now that I have one in my (very tiny) kitchen, I totally get it. You all were right. This kitchen gadget is a game changer and makes getting veggies (and so many other things) on the table fast and DELICIOUS!

Like this Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli. Our family is obsessed with roasted broccoli, so attempting in in my air fryer was literally the first thing I went for. And, TNNers, it was magic! Perfectly crisp broccoli florets cooked super fast (8 minutes!) and without heating up my kitchen! I was hooked and I have legit used that air fryer everyday to make veggie-loading meals easy AND so delicious!

This recipe is….

Vegetarian, plant based, vegan, gluten free, dairy-free, Paleo and Whole30 friendly.

Broccoli florets in a bowl with oil, slat and garlic powder.

Flavors that go well with broccoli

This Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli is a great jumping off point for falling in love with broccoli! But don’t be afraid to put your own little twist on it so that it fits your taste preference. Here are some tried-and-true flavors to consider adding to your crispy broccoli florets after cooking to add a little pizzazz to this vegetable side dish!

  • butter
  • lemon
  • cheese (feta, cheddar, goat, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Swiss all go really well with broccoli)
  • garlic salt
  • sea salt
  • diced shallots or scallions
  • a drizzle of olive oil
  • red pepper flakes
  • balsamic vinegar
Uncooked broccoli florets in an air fryer basket.

Chef Tips and Tricks

Be sure to cut your broccoli floret small and close to the same size. This will help promote the florets to cook evenly.

Don’t skip on shaking the air fryer broccoli half-way through cooking. I can’t stress this enough! There is power in the shake. I find the times I have walked away and left the roasted broccoli to cook untouched in the air fryer is the time I have ended up with burnt broccoli. Shaking helps to move the broccoli florets around and flip them a bit so that they cook evenly.

Don’t over fill your air fryer. It’s tempting to do double batches, I know, but your broccoli will not cook up in 8 minutes and will cook all kinds of uneven.

Be sure the broccoli is evenly coated in oil. When tossing the broccoli in oil and seasonings, take the time to make sure you do it throughly. Making sure the oil is completely on the broccoli will help it roast to perfection in the air fryer.

Other broccoli sides to try!

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Air fryer broccoli
5 from 1 vote

Roasted Air Fryer Broccoli

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Cuisine: American
Course: Side Dish
This Roasted Air Fryer Broccoli cooks up in about 8 minutes and is the perfect vegetable side. Easy to make, faster than oven roasted, and full of flavor! Your whole family will adore this delicious broccoli side.

Ingredients
 

  • 4 cups heaping broccoli florets, for even cooking, make sure they are cut small and similar in size. About one medium head of broccoli or 12 ounces.
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 375℉. I usually let mine warm up for 3 minutes.
  • While air fryer warms up, combine the broccoli florets, olive oil, garlic powder, and salt in a medium sized bowl. Toss a few times to coat evenly.
  • Place your broccoli in the warm air fryer in a single layer.
  • Cook for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket at the halfway cooking point and checking for the broccoli to be done. I find shaking the broccoli is important to help promote even cooking.
    At 8 minutes, check broccoli for tenderness. If broccoli is a bit too firm, cook for another 1-2 minutes or until desired texture is reached.
  • Once cook time is up, remove the broccoli from the air fryer basket and enjoy warm. Enjoy as is or top with grated cheese, a little lemon juice, butter, extra olive oil, or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Notes

Tips and tricks

  • Be sure to cut your broccoli florets small and close to the same size. This will help promote the florets to cook evenly.
  • Don’t skip on shaking the air fryer broccoli half-way through cooking. I can’t stress this enough! There is power in the shake. I find the times I have walked away and left the roasted broccoli to cook untouched in the air fryer is the time I have ended up with burnt broccoli. Shaking helps to move the broccoli florets around and flips them a bit so that they cook evenly.
  • Don’t over fill your air fryer. It’s tempting to do double batches, I know, but your broccoli will not cook up in 8 minutes and will cook all kinds of uneven.
  • Be sure the broccoli is evenly coated in oil. When tossing the broccoli in oil and seasonings, take the time to make sure you do it throughly. Making sure the oil is on the broccoli completely, will help it roast to perfection in the air fryer.
Calories: 63kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 176mg, Potassium: 290mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 567IU, Vitamin C: 81mg, Calcium: 43mg, Iron: 1mg